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GWERNYFED RFC
LLANFILO OR BANCYFELIN?
Gwernyfed RFC’s Peter Weavers tells a story of two rugby villages...
Many will have heard that Bancyfelin gets plenty of kudos for producing top class sportsmen from a population of less than 500. The village, five miles west of Carmarthen on the A40, has legitimate cause for pride in this (and no doubt other) respects.
Sticking to our own game first, one can hardly quibble when our friends from the west laud Wales and Lions centre Jonathan Davies, player of the Lions’ tour to New Zealand, as an example of the product of the soil of Bancyfelin. Mike Phillips, another Lions and Wales star also hails from the village as did the great Delme Thomas from another vintage. In all, Bancyfelin has produced five players who went on to win full Welsh caps, a notable record.
Outside rugby, Sky cycling team member and Bancyfelin alumni Geraint Thomas has enjoyed huge success in the sport, not least in supporting Tour de France winners Frome and Wiggins in what is undoubtedly a team effort – though of course Thomas hasn’t done the Holyhead RFC to Llantwit Major RFC tour! What the Bancyfelin promoters fail to recognise is that with a population some two or three times greater than the Llanfilo roll,
the West Walian claim must be seen in context. Indeed, one can develop the argument further by focussing on the one and only named road in Llanfilo, Brynheulog, a cul-de-sac of eight houses.
At the Annual General Meeting earlier this year the Members elected Andrew (‘Hiller’) Hill as First XV and Club Captain. An honour in its own right for the teacher but one that means that no less than four players brought up in Brynheulog have received the Club’s ultimate honour.
Since the notion of Gwernyfed RFC was hatched in the 1960s Brynheulog has played its part, one of the founding fathers, Will Skyrme, living at Number 8 with Eileen. Life Member Will played with huge distinction for Gwernyfed and Ebbw Vale and is central to our lottery initiative.
The first local skipper was Paul, ‘The Warrior’, Morgan, known to us all affectionately as Mogs. Paul wore the captain’s armband for six seasons, the first in 1997-98. He will be recalled as a fierce competitor, never happier than when at the bottom of the ruck, who led from the front through a successful era and who continues to give his all to Gwernyfed. In 2011-12, came Will’s son Danny Skyrme
who has played with distinction for Gwernyfed through his whole career and is current Assistant Coach, underlining his commitment to the Green, White and Blacks. Last season, Craig Fuller, another brought up in Brynheulog, took the armband and though a broken shoulder spoiled his season, Craig is another who has devoted his career to our great Club. Andy Hill follows in the footsteps of his father Ian who still lives with Denise at Number 1. Ian is current Fixture Secretary and was skipper of the Second XV – Llanfilo strikes again. Andy has featured on the wing and in the centre with distinction for several seasons and his elevation to Club Captain is deserved recognition for his commitment.
Things don’t stop here. Paul’s son Rhys is a formidable prop in the successful Youth XV – and while it’s too soon to say whether Andy’s newly born son, Ezra, will play up front or follow his father into the three-quarter division, no doubt he will offer long term continuity to the Llanfilo legacy.
Llanfilo or Bancyfelin? The reader can decide but no matter that decision, both villages can be very proud of the contribution that they have made to Welsh Rugby and to community life in Wales...
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